RIDING THE RAILS WITH SEN. OBAMA IN PENNSYLVANIA.  —  DOWNINGTON, Pa.— At the next train stop, I'm going to stand behind Senator Obama when he speaks.  When he's decrying the trivial distractions in politics, I think he may be crossing his fingers behind his back.

Behind TV Analysts, Pentagon's Hidden Hand  —  In the summer of 2005, the Bush administration confronted a fresh wave of criticism over Guantánamo Bay.  The detention center had just been branded “the gulag of our times” by Amnesty International, there were new allegations of abuse …

Bob Casey: Obama Would Probably Find DC Handgun Bill Constitutional  —  Update: The AP has a new article on Obama's many efforts at gun control.  —  At Wednesday's debate, Barack Obama wouldn't say what his position is on the DC law banning handguns.  He dodged, saying he wasn't familiar with the facts of the case.

British guns pound Basra  —  IRAQI forces backed by British troops and artillery seized the main stronghold of the radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the southern port city of Basra yesterday.  —  The operation, which also involved RAF and American aircraft, forced the cleric's Mahdi army militants …

HBO, after the revolution  —  CURRENT HISTORY: Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney in HBO's “ John Adams.”  The classy miniseries, which has done well, in the ratings, ends its run Sunday.  —  It used to always be the premium of the premiums.  Now the cable pack's catching up.

Obama pushes across Pa.  —  He ended the day urging thousands in Phila. to send a message Tuesday.  —  Sen. Barack Obama launched his closing Pennsylvania blitz yesterday by traveling from one corner of the state to the other, starting in Erie and closing with a massive outdoor rally on the streets of Philadelphia.

Bill Clinton Says Criticisms of Hillary's Healthcare Plan are ‘Bull’  —  ABC News' Sarah Amos reports: Former President Bill Clinton continued on the campaign trail today, with time quickly ticking away before Pennsylvania's presidential primary on Tuesday.  —  Clinton started the day completely focused on his wife's policies.

U.S. Commanders Seeking to Widen Pakistan Attacks  —  WASHINGTON — American commanders in Afghanistan have in recent months urged a widening of the war that could include American attacks on indigenous Pakistani militants in the tribal areas inside Pakistan, according to United States officials.

Clintons Sort Friends: Past and Present  —  WASHINGTON — Nancy Larson's most difficult conversation was, by far, the one with Chelsea Clinton.  —  “It was just heartbreaking,” said Mrs. Larson, a Democratic National Committee member from Minnesota and more to the point …